Machine



(No Model.)

' L. BLOCK.

RBFRIGERATING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 17, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS BLOCK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REFRlGERATING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,541, dated April17, 1894. Application filed July 11, 1 8 9 1 Serial No. 3 9 9, 20 8- (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

zen of the United States, residing in the city and county of New York,in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Refrigerating-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention applies to all that class of refrigerating machinesproducing cold by evaporation of ammonia and analogous gaseousrefrigerants previously liquefied by compression. The successfuloperation of a refrigerating machine working on this principle dependslargely on the regulation of the flow of ammonia or other volatilerefrigerant from the retainer in which it is held in a liquid form atcommon temperatures, into the evaporator in which it serves for coolingbyevaporation. It is desirable to adapt such to take care of itself fora long period, thus enabling a refrigerating machine to serve on a smallscale and on movable structures as railroad cars.

The apparatus known as the expansion cock requires to be frequently adusted. This is especially necessary when, as is usually practiced, thecompressor is Worked more slowly during cool periods to economlze power.It requires a more expensive attendant 1f the expansion cock must beadjusted than if only the speed of the machine shall require to bevaried. It willbe understood that in machines having skilled attendancea cock can be adjusted from time to time so as to be always justsufficiently open to allow the liquefied ammonia to flow from the highpressure retainer for the liquefied refrigerant into the evaporator orlow pressure part of the apparatus and be evaporated at the proper rate.When from varying the speed of the machine or from any other cause theflow is, on the one hand, too restricted, or, on the other hand,

too free, an engineer of skill and experience with this class ofmachinery, can remedy the difficulty by slightly opening or closing theexpansion cock. But the expansion cock involves frequent and skillfulattendance. Sometimes the contracted aperture becomes partially chokedwith a particle of solid matter in the liquid and the effect is greatlychanged, even when no variation has been made in the speed of working.

I have discovered means for supplying the liquefied refrigerant asrequired for effective refrigeration which do not require that skill fulattendance which the ordinary expansion cock demands. In the mode ofcarrying out my invention, which I esteem the best, I provide a slowlyrevolving plug connected to the compressor and operated by the samemechanism, which at one period in each revolution presents a cavity tothe high pressure retainer for the liquefied refrigerant under suchconditions that it is certain to be filled with the liquid ammonia, andat another point in each revolution presents the same cavity to theevaporator or low pressure part of the apparatus under such conditionsthat it is certain to be emptied. This device holds back the main bodyof the liquefied ammonia with absolute reliability, and discharges ajust sufficient quantity to be evaporated. To this end the size of theIneasurer or measuring device and the volume of vapor removed at eachtransfer are proportioned inversely to the densities respectively of theliquefied refrigerant and the vapor under the conditions of effectiveworking; or in other words, the volume of vapor removed from theevaporator or expansion coils at each transfer is as much greater thanthe measure of liquid transferred from the retainer for theliquefiedrefrigerant as the density of the liquefied ammonia is greater than thatof vapor under the low pressure necessary for effective refrigeratingoperation. Thus by a positive operation, without careful manipulation onthe part of the attendant, the pressure in the expansion coils willalways be kept practically constant or within the limits of effectiverefrigeration, because any rise in the pressure and density of the vaporwill result in the removal of more ammonia than supplied by the measureror measuring device until equilibrium is established and owing to theproportioning of the size of the measurer relatively to the volume ofvapor as above set forth this state of equilibrium will correspond witha sufficiently low pressure for effective refrigeration with theliquefied refrigerant. The intervals of transfer of the liquefiedrefrigerant are made to correspond with the rate of removal of theresultant vapor from the evaporator or expansion coils; orin otherwords, the measuring device is operated at at the rate of the compressormechanism. By

having the measurer operating means connected with and operated by thesaid compressor' mechanism, thereis an automatic variation of the speedof the measurerwith each variationof the speed of the compressor.Consequently whenthe speed of the machine slackensa positively operatingmeans not apt to get out of order automatically adjusts the supply ofliquefied refrigerant to the slower speed and it is impossible for theevaporator or expansion coils to; be filled or supplied in excess withthe liquid refrigerant. 'With the usualexpansion'eock when the machineslows down, if the said, cock is not adjusted to the changed conditions,the liquefied refrigerant enters faster thanit will volatilize, thusincreasing the pressure and decreasing the rate of, 'volatilizationandallowing the temperature to "rise; It /has been proposed toemployselt acting cockswhich open only when there is a certaindifference in pressure between the evaporator and the retainer ofliquefied refrigerant, but these are, not the equivalents forthemeasnrer ormease uring device used in this, invention, because they donot operate in the sa1ne-way,'are not positive and are apt toget outoiflord er.

Refrigerating 'machines; have been, con-f I structed which utili'zedturns the refrigerat ing agent, but insucha machine the refriger- XVention as already stated,-I adjust by a positive operation the quantityof the liquefied refrigerant supplied tooth'e evaporator orex- ,pansioncoils in, such a way that its conversion into a vapor in thesaidexpansion coils is insured and its accumulation therein in a liquefiedcondition prevented, and I thus insure always, irrespective of the speedof the machine, the conditions necessary for an ch fective absorption ofheat by, the act of va-i porization. In refrigerationby compressed airthere is nothing correspondingto the dif-' ference betweenthe liquid andvapor OODdi-v tions of the refrigerant, There is no latent heat ofvaporization involved, nor any such necessity for adeterminate amount ofvacuum in the expansion coils as is involved in the use of a liquefiedvaporfor the refrig- 1 produced by causing the air to perform exteerant.The mere expansion of compressed air would not eifect-a lowering oftempera ture and any, cooling effect which may be rior work is somethingwhich would not depend directly upon the measurement of compressed airto the expansion coil and which would be entirely irrelevant to thepresent invention. It will also be understood that I thereby; t, l

L struction ,combinethe imeasurer or 'nieasuring device i with elementsother than those in use in air machines, as well asadapt it to thespecial functions it has: to perform, so that my apparatus asa wholediffers essentially from an air machine. in its'partsas well'as in itsmode of operation, and in the new resultsattained The accompanyingdrawings form a part of this specification: and represent whatIconsiderthe: best means otcarrying out. the invention; ,7 r V Figure lis'a side elevation of the entire apparatus partly in section. Theremaining 2 is a viewcorrespondingto Fig; 1.

and Fig. 5is a vertical section onthe linen: a: in Fig. 4,

figures show portions one larger scale a Fig.3is it a plan View. Fig. 4;is a horizontal section,

H Similar letters of reterenceindicate correQ sponding'partsin allthefigures wherethey 1 occur. 7 y y o y I, I

g A is'the fixed frame-workwhich supports the compressor pumpB and theactuating enp r'ts maybe: otany ordinary or suitable con 1 D: is the shatt oat the refrigerating mach, e

gine, which latter isjindicated by C. These i "which: may he understoodto he revo1ving, in f ordinary summer weather, at abo'ut sixtyrevolution se minute. I The cd npressed and i) consequently hot ammoniais delivered through thepipeE, and through a separator F into thecondenser G, in which it is sub jeoted to the cooling influence ofashower of water; or is'cooled by blowing with a'iror by both thesemeans, or by any other available means, and assumes thedesired conditionof adense liquid. Thisfiows through thepipe H,and is ready to beevaporated.

I is the casingofi mymeasureror measur- 1 ingdevice; Its interior isaccuratelybored 1 to receivea taperingfplng J havinga neck "no Jextending out, through a stufiing boxl.

On the outer end of the neck'J" is aworm wheelJ through which the plugreceives a "slow rotary motion from awormshaft K,actuated by gearing K,D. The plug J,J,- is urged axially by a coiled spring L pressing againstits larger end. Its .end motion is restrained by an ladjusting screwMwhich is I tapped through ayoke connected rigidly to theflcase I. In theplng J is a deep cavity 7'; At each revolutionthis cavity'isatuone pe-,rio'd presented horizontally to the retainer for theliquefiedrefrigerant, and is filled'with ammonia from the pipe H. At alaterperiod in eachrevolution the measure of liquid antmonia, containedin cavityj is presented to, the connection 0 whichleads-to theevapo-rrator or expansion coil Pinto which'itisinstantly projected not only bygravity but also 'bythe expansion of a portion into a gaseous condition;'The compressor by its action,

maintains a low pressnrein the evaporator or expansion coil P and theremaining liquid,

ammonianow evaporates and extractsthe evaporator or expansion coil.

heat from the fluid which surrounds the The ammonia ultimately returnsas a gas, at a predetermined pressure,to the compressor to be againcompressed and the round of operation is repeated.

Modifications may be made by any good mechanic without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. There maybe the ordinary or any suitable provisions for disposing of the oil inthe separator F. There may be any ordinary or suitable provisions forregulating the speed of the compressor, so that it may be worked morerapidly when required. By effecting the revolutions of my measurer ormeasuring device by gearing from the compressor, it follows that whenthe rate of the latter is raised or lowered, the measurer or measuringdevice will deliver at correspondingly varied intervals. I can vary thesize and relation of the gear wheels connecting the cock with thecompressor so as to revolve the cock once, twice or any other number oftimes for each revolution of the main shaft. Or I can if desired operateit successfully so geared as to make only one revolution of the cock andconsequently only one delivery of the volatile fluid for two or anyother number of double strokes of the compressor. I can use otherrefrigerating liquid in lieu of ammonia. There may be any ordinary orsuitable measurer or measuring device in lieu of the cock.

In order to supply the liquefied ammonia or analogous liquefied gaseousrefrigerant.

from its retainer to the evaporator by periodically fillinga measuringdevice with the liquefied refrigerant from said retainer and emptyingthe contents into the evaporator, there must be operating means; sincethe measurer, unlike the expansion cock, requires move ment for feeding.Such means must be adapted to operate the measuring device at aproperrate. The fact that the measurer requires to be operated in order tofeed, that it is certain to feed and that the rate of feed can beregulated by con-trolling its speed make its use a great improvement'inmachines for refrigerating by liquefied gaseous refrigerants.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a refrigerating machine of the characterspecified, the combination with the retainer for the liquefiedrefrigerant, the evaporator, and the compressing mechanism, of ameasuring device located between the re tainer and evaporator, andmechanism for operating the measurer at the rate of the compressormechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a refrigerating machine of the character specified, thecombination with the retainer for the liquefied refrigerant, theevaporator, and the compressing mechanism, of a measuring device locatedbetween the retainer and evaporator, and means for operating themeasurer connected with and operated by the compressor mechanism,substantially as and forlthe purpose set forth.

3. The herein described refrigerating machine operating by means ofliquefied gaseous refrigerant, such as ammonia, and comprising a set ofclosed vaporizing coils, a compressor, or equivalent means forcompressing the volatilized refrigerant, a surface condenser, a measurersuch as the plug Jj, for the liquefied refrigerant, a connection betweenthe liquid space of said condenser and the said measurer, a connectionbetween the said measurer and the said vaporizing coils, a connectionbetween the said vaporizing coils and the said compressor, a connectionbetween such compressor and the condenser, and mechanical means foroperating the said measurer to transfer the liquefied refrigerant atintervals varying in frequency with the speed at which the machine isrun, the capacity of said compressor for removing and compressing vaporfor each such transfer being as much greater in volume than the size ofsaid measurer as the density of the said liquefied refrigerant isrequired to be greater than the density of the said vapor under the lowpressure necessary to insure vaporization at the low temperatureobtaining, whereby the pressure in said vaporizing coils is withoutrequiring careful manipulation, kept Within the limits of eifectiverefrigeration with the liquefied gaseous refrigerant, said pressurebeing always low enough to insure the vaporization of the said liquefiedrefrigerant at the low temperature obtaining, and its delivery in theaeriform condition to the compressor at the different speeds of the saidmachine, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afiix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS BLOCK.

Witnesses:

CHAS. W. LAHR, ALFRED SIEBERT.

